Water-gage.



H. G. MANCHESTER.

WATER GAGE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13, 1913. mmam Patented Aug. 19', 1913.

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INVENTOR 0. MANCHESTER.

WATER GAGE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13, 1913.

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w FIG 6- Patented Aug. 19, 1913.

. fully set forth.

50 threaded for connection with upper r "iri -w ,ii 9i rii'ir g'i Urlliniri slimline I-IENRY O. MANCHESTER, E SCRANTGN, PEENSYLVANIA.

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Specification of iletters Patent.

racemes Aug. is, rare.

Application filed-January 13, 1913. Serial No. 741,336.

'1 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, HENRY C. .MAN- CHESTER, of Scranton, 1n the county of Lacklr'wanna and Stateof Pennsylvania, have in- 5 vented a certain new and useful Improvement in Water-Gages, of which improvement the following 16 a specification.

My improvement relates to Water gages.

for steam boilers, of the glass tube type, and

its object is to provide an appliance of said type, of such construction that engineers and firemen shall be protected from injury in the event of the bursting of a tube, and in which the packing glands of the tube may be set and maintained absolutely in line, and

nary practice.

lncidental objects'are simplicity and inexpensiv eness in construction, positiveness in action, din-ability and reliability in service, readiness of application under existing conditions of location of boiler connections,

and compliance with the requirements of the Interstate Commerce Commission, and the several State Railroad Commissions.

The improvement claimed .is hereinafter in the accompanying drawings: Figure -1 is afront view, in elevation, of a water gage, illustrating an embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2,'a vertical longitudinal central sec tion through the same; Figs. 3, 4, and 5,

horizontal sections, on an enlarged scale, on the lines a a, 6 Z), and c 0, respectively, of Fig. 2; and, Figs. 6 and 7, partial, vertical longitudinal central sections, illustrating modi- 40 lications of structural detail.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to l inclusive of the drawings, in the practice of my invention I provide a gage glass support and shield, 1, which is an integral or one piece frame, of symmetricalcontour, that is, of

circular or polygonal cross-section, having tubular connection chambers, 1 l formed upon and projecting, in line axially, from its opposite ends, said chambers being and lower gage cocks, 2, and being carefully machined so that their axes shall be accurately in line. The flipper and lower membcrs of the frame, on which the chambers, 1 1", are" formed, are connected by a plurality, of vertical ribs or bars, of the form in grooves .conneptipn' chamber and serves astransverse section shown in Fig. 5, each of said ribs having a longitudinal groove machined in each of its sides, said grooves serving to receive and hold shield plates, 3, of heavy glass, or other suitable transparent material, which extend across the spaces between the ribs, throughout the length thereof, and serve to protect the engineer and fireman from injury by flying fragments of the glass gage tube hereinafter described, in the event of the bursting thereof.

The shield being,-as before stated, of symmetrical contour, any one of the spaces may be turned to thefront when in position for use.

In the instance shown, four shield plates are provided, that next the front being of plain or clear glass. These plates may be either of plain or of wire netting inserted glass, as preferred, and the rear side shield plate may be faced with any suitable reflector, or may be a perforated plate or woven Wire netting, 3*, preferably set in a frame, 3", adapted to fit in the adjacent of the support and shield, l. A shield plate of this form Will permit the escape of stelim and water from a broken tube and prevent fragments of the tube from flying out and doing injury. The character and specific number of the shield plates, are not, however, essentials of my invention.

A'packing gasket, 4, of rubber or other suitable material is fitted in the inner end of eaclrof the connection chambers, 1, 1", said gaskets surrounding a gage tube, 5,. of strong and well annealed glass, the ends'of which extend outwardly, for a short distance beyond the gaskets, and the upper cnd of which is not in contact with any other member of the appliance, so that no longitudinal or compressive strain is exerted upon the tube. The gage tube being, as before described, completely surrounded by a casing of metal and heavy glass, it is protected against changing atmospheric conditions, so that it cannot be chilled and broken by drafts of cold 'air to which the tubes of water gages of ordinary construction are subjected.

Upper and lower gage cocks, 2, are con nected to the shell, A, of the boiler, intl e usual manner, and the body of the lower gage cock is connected directly with the lower.

connection chamber, 1 of the-support and shield, 1, through a threaded lateral nozzle, 2, which engages the thread of" the lower a gland for said chamber similarly to an ordinary stufling box gland. .As shown in Fig. 2, the

- lower end of the gage tube, 5, is supported,

without being subjected to any compressive strain, on an annular shoulder at the top of a valve block, 7, fitted between the lower connection-chamber and the nozzle, 2, of the lower gage cock, but in cases where the check valve device hereinafter described is not applied, it may be similarly supported on a shoulder. in the nozzle, 2", as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The upper gage cock is con- .nected indirectly with the upper connection chamber, l through the intermediation of an extension tube, 6, the upper end of which fits freely in the lateral nozzle, 2 of the body of 'the'cock, and the lower end of which is threaded to engage the upper connection chamber, 1*, of the support and thread on the nozzle.

extension tube is threaded for engagement shield, 1. The joint between the extension tube suck the nozzle of the cock is made tight by a pac ting gasket, 6, surrounding the tube and compressed against the end of the nozzle by a union couplingnut, 6 engaging a The lower end of the the chamber, and its bore freely surrounds,

but has no end bearing on, the upper end portion of the gage tube, 5; The upper end of the extension tube projects into, without end bearing against, the nozzle of the up per gage cock. A removable plug, 2*, is screwed into the body of the upper gage cock, and a drain cook body, 2, controlled by a suitable cock, of the ordinary constructionis screwed into the body of the lower gage cook, the passages through the plug and drain cock body being both in line axially with the gage tube. By the removal of the plug, 2", a straight and through the gage tube and the bodies of the gage cocks,'is provided, enabling a wire to pe run through the gage tube as required by WVhen the extension tube is connected to the upper-connection chamber through the intermediation of a valve chamber, 9, as shown in Fig. 2, and hereinafter described, it exerts, through said chamber, bearing pressure on the upper packing gasket, 4, with the same eliect as if directlyconnected as in Fi s,- 6 and 7.

It wil be seen that the provision of the lxtension tube as a conlriectmg medium for tie age su ort and t e uer a e cock, enab les ag d tubies of'deteri id ned sandurd length, used smooth at both ends, to be used, without limitation "to existing distances between upper and lower gage cocks,

direct passage tube, 6, and the'nut, 6 are first assembled in any convenient-location away from the boiler, the extension tube being screwed to the upper connection chamber with a suflicientbearing'to compress the packlng gasket, 4, of said. chamber and seal its oint therewith. The assembled members are then connected to the gage cocks, 2, on the boiler,

by passing the extension tube, 6, into thenozzle, 2 of the upper gage cock, and screwing the support and shield-upon the nozzle of the lower gage cock, until the lower packing gasket, 4:, is com ressed sufiiciently to seal both the-glass tlfiJB and the screw threads at the connection against leakage. The nut, 6 is then screwed on the nozzle of the upper gage cock, compressing the packing gasket, 6 and sealing the joint of the tube therewith'aga'inst leakage, and the gage will be inreadiness for service.

The appliance hereiilbetore described constitutes, in and of itself, acomplete and advantageously operative water gage, and while, without additional members, it is applicable under all the conditionsof steam boiler service, it is preferably provided with means whereby the,discharge of steam and water from-the boiler, resultant upon the' breakage of a gage tube, maybe automatically and immediately stopped. To this end, a self closing check valve device may, without departure from the essential structural and operative principles of the appliance as before described, be interposed between the ends of the gage tube and the 1*, is, forthe application of this device, made of greater length than is necessary when'it is not used, and a valve block, 7, is fitted therein, the top oi said block, which may be, as indicated, formed in a separate piece, abutting against the lower packing gasket, 4, and the completeblock torn-ling a support for-the bottom of'the gage tube, 5, and serving as a glandfor'the chamber, in the same manner as does the nozzle of the lower gage cock when the check valve de vice is not applied. The connection chain;- ber is screwed to said nozzle and'the packing gasket thereby compressed, as in the instance first described. An inclined transverse guide way,.7, extends across the valve block, in which there is formed a lower passage, 7* extending to said guide way, and a valve seat, 7, surrounds an upper passage extendiif through the top part of the bloclgboth c which passages are in line axially with the gage tube, 5. A small loo YOK"

gage cocks. The lower connection chamber,

iii;

form a support, onwhich floating plate, 10,

incense lateral-port, I, also extends from the taco of'the guide way to the opposite end of the valve block, and a ball check valve, 8, is titted to traverse freely over the guide way, resting normally at the lower end thereof, as shown in Fig. 2' In the event of the breakage of a gage tube, and the consequent release of steam and water therefrom, the pressure in the boiler, acting through the-lateral port, 7, 'on tl c'checl: valve, will force said valve againstpthe valve seat, 7, and preventfurther escape oi water from the broken tube.

The extension tube, 6, is connected to the upper connection chamber, 1, through the intermediation of a valve chamber, 9, which is threaded, at its upper end, to engage the 1 extension tube, and, at its lower end, to engage the connection chamber, for which it terms a gland, and coinpr sses the upper packing gasket, at, in the same manner'as does the extension 'tuhe, w en directly coir nccted as before ioted. A port, 9, is formed in a transverse partition, 9, in the valve chanil'ger, in line axially with the extension tube and gage tube, the partition being inclined on one side of the port to which is a thin metal disk, rests and is normally held in inclined position, by a spring. 11. A guide way, 10 cut in the floating plate, and a. ball check valve, 12, which normally rests on the partition, 9*, is adapted to traverse in said guide ay toward and from a seat surrounding the upper end of the partition port, 9. The sides of the floating plate are bent upwardly to form lateral guards, and a stop is turned up wardly at the inner end of the guide way, to prevent the check valve from rolling beyond its seat over thepartition port. 530 long as there is an equalization of pressure above and below the floating pan, as in the ndrmal operation of the water gage, the pan is held in the inclined position showmby the spring, and the ball valve'rests entirelyclear of the partition port. 9. Upon "the brealrage of the gage tube, and the consequent release of pressure below the floating an, the downward pressure of steam upon the latter forces it downwardly, against the resistance of the spring, and the check valve rolls to its on the upper end of the partition port, 9, against which it is firmly held by the boiler pressure, preventing thev tizrther escape of steam. The check valves of both the upper and lower ends of the gage tubes, when in normal position, stand entirely clear of the passage s which they govern, and therefore'do not obstruct the straight way passage through the gage tube.

Figs. ('3 and 7 illustrate modifications of detail in the connection of the gage glass support and shield with the extension tube that it can he ea.

and lower gage and in the location of the gaskets, all embodying the same structural a'iu'loperative principles the construction licreinbetore described. its shown in Fig. (3, the upper packing gasket oi the gage tube is tilted within the lower end of the extension tube, and is held between a shoulder in the latter and a flanged ling l1 fitting in a. recess in the upper conne 'tionchamber, l. The lower connection chamljier tlirczulcd in" ardly as in '2, and the lower packing gasket is titted in the nozzle ot the lower coclnand held between a shoulder therein and a ring, l, fitting in a recess in the lower connection chamber, in a manner similar to the clan'iping of the upper gasket. In the form shown in Fig. 7, the gaskets are similarly located, but both the upper and the lower connection chau' hers are outwardly threaded, and the rings, 4t and 4-, not applied.

it will be seen that the construction of a water gage embodying my invention is such.

sil y and inexpensively manufactured in an ordinary foundry and machine shop, without requiring special equipment, and that, when tilted properly, the packing glands of the gage tube'are absolutely in line axiall v'and will so remain during the lite oi the appliance. The assembled ineinbers oi the appliance can be r a dily applied to the boiler ga e cocks, and it is necessary for the operator to work over a hot boiler only very briefly, the gage can be applied or removed in the space of about one minute. If the gage tube should breal-c in service, the gage cocks are closed against steam'and wati 'lealrage, and the support and shield, with the connected members, are removed to a location away from the boiler, where new gage tube can capacity overcomes the existing objections of working near a hot boiler or in the region of escaping steam, and there is no necessity of removing engaging ends from gage cocks packing glands or digging out packing washers from the hot packing glands, which is diliicult aud'dangerous in ordinary constructions. An important feature of ad vantage in service as the shield forms the support of the tube, the engineer is obliged to leave the former in operative position on the boiler. In other words, it must necessarily be applied, and it is impossible for the engineer to remove it, it for any reason h should do si e to do so, without putting the entire appliance completely out of service.

I claim "1,53 my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1.. in a water gage for steam boilers, the combination of an integral frame, comprising two end members, each having "formed gage tube packing be inserted. This consists in the fact that v chamber, and a plurality of grooved connecting bars, the connection chambers being M ing two end members, each having formed upon it an outwardly projecting connection chamber, and a plural ty of grooved connecting bars, the connecting chambers being threaded in line axially for connection to upper and lower gage cocks, shield plates fitting in the grooves of the frame bars, a gage tube fitting freely in the connection chambers, packing gaskets surrounding the gage tube in said chambers, an extension tube connected to one of the connection chambers and bearing on the packing gasket thereof, and free for sliding movement at and adjoining its opposite end, and a gage cock connected to the other chamber and exerting pressure on the packing gasket thereof. I

3. In a water gage for'steam boilers, .the

combination of an integral frame, comprismg two end members, each having an outwardly pro ecting connecting chamber, and

- a plurality 0t grooved intermediate bars,

spaced diametrically to clear a central gage tube, the connecting chambers being threaded in line axially, shield plates fitting in the grooves of the frame bars, an extension tube,

the major diameter of which'is' less than the distance between the shield plates and which is threaded at one end to engage one of the connection chambers and free for sliding movcm'ent at and adjoining its opposite end,

a gagejtnbe -fitting freely in the connectionchamliisrsrand packing gaskets surrounding the gage. tube in the-connection chambers.

i. In a water gage for steam boilers, the combination of an upperand a lower gage cock, each having a threaded lateral nozzle on its body, an integral frame, comprising two end members, each having an outwardly projecting connectingchamber, and a plurallty of grooved intermediate bars, the connecting members being threaded in line axitlopiea of this patent may be obtained for fivecents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

orenzo ally, shield plates fitting in the grooves of the frame bars, an extensiontube having a threaded engagement with the upper con- '-nection chamber at one end, and fitting freely at its opposite end in the lateral noz- .zle of the upper gage cook, a union coupling nutsurrounding the extension tube and engaging said nozzle, :1 gage tube seated on the lateral nozzle of the lower gage cock and fitting freely in the connection chambers, a packing gasket surrounding the gage tube in the upper connection chamber and compressed therein by the extension tube,and a packing gasket surrounding the gage tube in the lower connection chamber and compressed therein by the engagement of said chamber withthe lateral nozzle of the lower gage cock.

5. In a water gage for steam boilers, the combination of an upper and a lower gage cock, a gage tube communicating at its opposite ends with the bodies of said gage cocks, a valve'chamber interposed between the gage tube and the upper gage cock and having a transverse partition perforated by a port in line with the gage tube, a floating pan normally resting on an lnclined face of said partition and having a guide way ex-- tending transversely to the gage tube, a spring acting to normally hold said pan in said position, and a ball check valve fitted to traverse in said guide way toward and from a seat on the port of the partition.

6. In a water gage for steam boilers, the

combination of an upper and a lower gage cook, a gage tubefconimunicating at its opposite ends with the-bodies of said gage cocks, a valve chamber interposed between the gage tube and the lower gage cock and having an uppertransverse partition perforated by a port in line with the gage tube and a lower inclined partition perforated by a similar central port and by a lateral port at a lower level than the central port,

and a ball check valve resting normally on the lower side of the lower partition and adapted to be seated, by unbalanced pressure from the lower gage cock, on the port of the upper partition.

F. J. SCIIRAMM, S. S. RIEGEL.

Washington, D. G. 

